‘Grassroots’ movie trailer: Seattle and all its oddities

Move over, “Sleepless in Seattle.” There’s a new definitive movie about this city, and it doesn’t wax romantic about our houseboats and year-round sweater weather.

It glorifies the underdog who walks around town in a polar bear suit.

“Grassroots” is the story of Grant Cogswell, a former music reviewer for “The Stranger” who ran for city council in 2001. He lost to Richard McIver by a 10 percent margin — not much considering that Cogswell was a virtual unknown except for his involvement in a city-wide monorail initiative.

The film, directed and co-written by Stephen Gyllenhaal (yes, that’s Jake and Maggie’s dad), is based on a book by former Stranger writer Phil Campbell. The film debuted at college campuses last year, and it’s making the rounds at film festivals now.